The #54 bus (I catch it across from the Balboa Park BART station as I do two other buses to points south from here) winds up through the Excelsior 'hood and stops at the Avalon/Athens stairway (99 steps).
What a tail-waggin' delight to discover how the Athens Avalon Greenspace has been transformed: Tiers of golden poppies alongside the stairs. First pic is a "Then" pic from several years ago. Next four pics: April 2013.
This hike was meant to check out this minipark's progress, a new McLaren Park entrance fountain, and then just random middle-ish trails until eventually meandering out to Mansell: no rush!
When able to tear myself away from the Greenspace, continued to the top of the stairway (at Valmar) and downhill a block to the foot of the Peru-to-Valmar stairway (pics 6, 7).
At the top of this rustic delight (77 steps), continuing south a short distance took me to Burrows that runs E-W alongside the park. Here an area was fenced in with work ongoing so detoured east a few yards to the new flower fountain at the Gambier and Burrows entrance (eighth pic). Hadn't been to this part of the park in a while (ninth pic: row of low mosaic seats here).
Behind me to the south beckoned sunny acres of forested and openspaced green rolling hills dotted with wildflowers, so off I went: sometimes minor trails not hiked in a while, other times hitting a main one.
Up-and-downed through exhilarating, wild, secluded forest trails and inviting openspaces (pics 10 through 14). As I paused atop one of the many unmarked dirt trails that wind through this breathtakingly gorgeous park, a refreshing breeze rippled the still-green tall grasses in a way that no mere photos could capture; ya had to be there… Do it!
What a tail-waggin' delight to discover how the Athens Avalon Greenspace has been transformed: Tiers of golden poppies alongside the stairs. First pic is a "Then" pic from several years ago. Next four pics: April 2013.
This hike was meant to check out this minipark's progress, a new McLaren Park entrance fountain, and then just random middle-ish trails until eventually meandering out to Mansell: no rush!
When able to tear myself away from the Greenspace, continued to the top of the stairway (at Valmar) and downhill a block to the foot of the Peru-to-Valmar stairway (pics 6, 7).
At the top of this rustic delight (77 steps), continuing south a short distance took me to Burrows that runs E-W alongside the park. Here an area was fenced in with work ongoing so detoured east a few yards to the new flower fountain at the Gambier and Burrows entrance (eighth pic). Hadn't been to this part of the park in a while (ninth pic: row of low mosaic seats here).
Behind me to the south beckoned sunny acres of forested and openspaced green rolling hills dotted with wildflowers, so off I went: sometimes minor trails not hiked in a while, other times hitting a main one.
Up-and-downed through exhilarating, wild, secluded forest trails and inviting openspaces (pics 10 through 14). As I paused atop one of the many unmarked dirt trails that wind through this breathtakingly gorgeous park, a refreshing breeze rippled the still-green tall grasses in a way that no mere photos could capture; ya had to be there… Do it!
1. THEN: Athens Avalon steps from several years ago
2. NOW: Athens Avalon Greenspace (4/2013)
3. Athens Avalon Greenspace
4. Athens Avalon Greenspace
5. Athens Avalon Greenspace. Mount Davidson in distance.
6. Peru up to Valmar steps
7. Peru to Valmar stairway
8. McLaren Park entrance at Burrows & Gambier
9. Entrance to McLaren Park at Burrows & Gambier
10. Bernal Heights from McLaren Park
11. McLaren Park
12. McLaren Park
13. Midtrail Uphill
14. Midpark Trailin'
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